Emergency Preparedness, Response & Recovery

Being prepared for emergencies and disasters is essential to preserving collections and family heirlooms. Being prepared means taking precautionary measures and knowing what to do in an emergency.

Because water exposure -- and the subsequent mold growth it quickly fosters -- is common to various emergencies and disasters, emergency preparedness necessarily emphasizes reducing the threats to collections posed specifically by water. Many different types of materials can withstand getting wet, but also can be lost completely if proper steps are not taken. (Jump to What to do if collections get wet)

Risk Management

Take steps to identify, assess, and prioritize risks to collections in order to put in place the necessary resources (including insurance) to reduce, spread, or transfer the risks and minimize the impact of unfortunate events.

Emergency Management

Knowing in advance what to do when disaster strikes increases personal safety and can help avoid catastrophic loss of collections by promoting a response that is timely, calm, and effective. Emergency management covers information that includes:

References and educational materials including: how to develop a disaster plan; what to expect from various types of emergencies/disasters; how to rescue collections; life safety precautions; how to respond to theft of collections